VOD in Swansea - Virgin Media TV and Phone

Nostra · 02-03-2005, 08:12

Looks like VOD is now available in swansea (and possibly cardiff) guys.

woke up this morning with the flex on demand service now available. Fairly impressed with the amount of movies that are on it along with music videos etc

wir3d · 02-03-2005, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostra

Looks like VOD is now available in swansea (and possibly cardiff) guys.

woke up this morning with the flex on demand service now available. Fairly impressed with the amount of movies that are on it along with music videos etc

The service was launched last night in both regions.

As usual, the first we hear of a successfully executed rollout is from DigitalSpy rather than an official communication - is there any time of day when you guy's aren't watching cable tv??

Hope you like it

Nostra · 02-03-2005, 09:39

girlfriend was in work early this morning so got down to watching some tv and there it was

ResidentX · 02-03-2005, 09:54

hehe working nicely in Cardiff

pretty neat I think ... cant see me paying for much tho!

mtazov · 02-03-2005, 12:08

I knew about this about a week ago but didn't have the final date.
but its here and will continue rollout across the country.

Diamonddog · 02-03-2005, 12:50

Does anyone know when Bromley's rolling out with VOD?

I gather NTL have completed the cable upgrade from the old Videotron infrastructure so presumably we'll be getting interactive soon as well.

Reading posts elsewhere, I gather that VOD will free up space for other channels, which can only be a good thing.

I gather VOD just "appears" with no official announcement. Is it just a case of switching on the TV one day and finding it there or does the STB need switching off and on?

ResidentX · 02-03-2005, 13:12

my stb was crashing and going slow most of last night, gave it a reboot and thought id try VOD ...

jameseast · 02-03-2005, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamonddog

I gather VOD just "appears" with no official announcement. Is it just a case of switching on the TV one day and finding it there or does the STB need switching off and on?

No need for a reboot, other than for the software upgrade which is required to enable VoD - this typically arrives a few days/weeks before the area's VoD kit is "switched on" to the public, it seems. Once the VoD streams are made available to all subscribers, the next time you press On Demand on your remote, you'll get a different looking menu and a message giving some information about VoD.

02-03-2005, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtazov

I knew about this about a week ago but didn't have the final date.
but its here and will continue rollout across the country.

No official dates are released as there is a lot of work to do on the night. It took over 4 hours last night configuring and then testing to make sure everything was working. We had a few minor issues which were resolved but any one of those problems could have meant a roll back. If dates were released and then an issue requires a rollback then everyone would be up in arms.

I need some more sleep.

1701-E · 02-03-2005, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

I need some more sleep.

No way... get in there and start on Belfast next ... please!!!

Adlam · 02-03-2005, 16:02

Yeah it works great here in Swansea, except i think that now if you wish to use the mini guide, you have to press TV first, either that or somethings wrong. Basil Brush is free and is keeping my younger brother quiet for 30 minutes!

wir3d · 02-03-2005, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

I need some more sleep.

Heh - managed not to get involved last night, but having done a 36 hour day for the Glasgow launch I don't envy you a bit!

02-03-2005, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by wir3d

Heh - managed not to get involved last night, but having done a 36 hour day for the Glasgow launch I don't envy you a bit!

I actually managed to watch a few VOD movies in between the few issues we had!!!

wir3d · 02-03-2005, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

I actually managed to watch a few VOD movies in between the few issues we had!!!

Ah yes, those special "late night" movies ;-)

djscrivo · 03-03-2005, 17:18

will it be everywere in months time

browneggsandham · 03-03-2005, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by djscrivo

will it be everywere in months time

How much do you wanna bet on that happening?

Browneggsandham

dilraj · 03-03-2005, 19:17

a leaflet came with the bills. it said that on demand was available and it just had details of how to access it. Im in bromley and i tried it but it didnt work. The leaflet also didnt say that the service hasnt been fully rolled out yet.

bigitup_j · 03-03-2005, 19:19

dilraj,
where abouts in the country are you?

jonathon84 · 04-03-2005, 02:47

So far so good - very impressed by how it works, hasnt crashed or been slow since ive started using it. Would like to see alot more content added but it's not a bad start.

Particularly like the ability to watch EastEnders if ive missed it or check out music videos (couldnt find the band that I wanted though

)

Nice job ntl

- we're finally getting there!!
Jonathon

dilraj · 04-03-2005, 10:02

i live in east london, and i definately dont have VOD, even tried resetting the box and forcing a download.

bigitup_j · 04-03-2005, 10:26

i didn't like east london would be getting vod next. i thought manchester was next on the list. unless anyone knows otherwise

maybe the on demand leaflet was mistakenly put in east london customer's bills.

BastionOfEgo · 04-03-2005, 13:28

i hate to let you down guys... but neither east london or manchester are next in line for VoD. i could tell you but then i'd have to kill you...

djleekee · 09-03-2005, 13:23

At last NTL get something right!

Well done and praise where due!

So does anyone know how it works? Are the programmes 'downloaded' overnight when bandwidth is at a low useage time?

I wonder if ITV will supply programmes eventually?

Leekee

Nostra · 09-03-2005, 13:32

no the programs are not stored on the ntl box

just think of it like watching a channel whenever you want but for a specific programme

JRH · 09-03-2005, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by djleekee

So does anyone know how it works? Are the programmes 'downloaded' overnight when bandwidth is at a low useage time?

Leekee

No, they're streamed to you as and when you want them - they're not downloaded or stored at all at your end.

The bandwidth used is totally separate from any other bandwidth.

02-03-2005, 08:12	#1
Nostra Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Swansea Services: Freeview, SKY +, ADSL (Freedom2Surf 8mb), PS2, Gamecube, Wii Posts: 508	VOD in Swansea Looks like VOD is now available in swansea (and possibly cardiff) guys. woke up this morning with the flex on demand service now available. Fairly impressed with the amount of movies that are on it along with music videos etc

02-03-2005, 09:39	#3
Nostra Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Swansea Services: Freeview, SKY +, ADSL (Freedom2Surf 8mb), PS2, Gamecube, Wii Posts: 508	girlfriend was in work early this morning so got down to watching some tv and there it was

02-03-2005, 09:54	#4
ResidentX Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 401	hehe working nicely in Cardiff pretty neat I think ... cant see me paying for much tho!

02-03-2005, 12:08	#5
mtazov Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Swansea, Wales Services: VM digital cable, VM 20meg BB & Phone Posts: 1,021	I knew about this about a week ago but didn't have the final date. but its here and will continue rollout across the country.

02-03-2005, 12:50	#6
Diamonddog Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London SE6 Services: V+ TV XL, XL phone, XL BB Posts: 166	Does anyone know when Bromley's rolling out with VOD? I gather NTL have completed the cable upgrade from the old Videotron infrastructure so presumably we'll be getting interactive soon as well. Reading posts elsewhere, I gather that VOD will free up space for other channels, which can only be a good thing. I gather VOD just "appears" with no official announcement. Is it just a case of switching on the TV one day and finding it there or does the STB need switching off and on?

02-03-2005, 13:12	#7
ResidentX Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 401	my stb was crashing and going slow most of last night, gave it a reboot and thought id try VOD ...

02-03-2005, 16:02	#11
Adlam Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Services: Virgin Media VIP pack Posts: 178	Yeah it works great here in Swansea, except i think that now if you wish to use the mini guide, you have to press TV first, either that or somethings wrong. Basil Brush is free and is keeping my younger brother quiet for 30 minutes!

03-03-2005, 17:18	#15
djscrivo Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Stoke On Trent Services: o2 iPhone, 3 Mobile Broadband, Top Up TV Anytime and Setanta Posts: 367	will it be everywere in months time

03-03-2005, 19:17	#17
dilraj Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Services: ntl family + sports, 150k bb Posts: 54	a leaflet came with the bills. it said that on demand was available and it just had details of how to access it. Im in bromley and i tried it but it didnt work. The leaflet also didnt say that the service hasnt been fully rolled out yet.

03-03-2005, 19:19	#18
bigitup_j Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: S.London + S.Manchester Services: VM BB, TV + Phone, Orange Contract Posts: 1,173	dilraj, where abouts in the country are you?

04-03-2005, 02:47	#19
jonathon84 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 367	So far so good - very impressed by how it works, hasnt crashed or been slow since ive started using it. Would like to see alot more content added but it's not a bad start. Particularly like the ability to watch EastEnders if ive missed it or check out music videos (couldnt find the band that I wanted though ) Nice job ntl - we're finally getting there!! Jonathon

04-03-2005, 10:02	#20
dilraj Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Services: ntl family + sports, 150k bb Posts: 54	i live in east london, and i definately dont have VOD, even tried resetting the box and forcing a download.

04-03-2005, 10:26	#21
bigitup_j Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: S.London + S.Manchester Services: VM BB, TV + Phone, Orange Contract Posts: 1,173	i didn't like east london would be getting vod next. i thought manchester was next on the list. unless anyone knows otherwise maybe the on demand leaflet was mistakenly put in east london customer's bills.

04-03-2005, 13:28	#22
BastionOfEgo Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8	i hate to let you down guys... but neither east london or manchester are next in line for VoD. i could tell you but then i'd have to kill you...

09-03-2005, 13:23	#23
djleekee Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: wales Services: Virgin Media V+, Digi TV tuner, Freeview, Wii. Posts: 1,128	At last NTL get something right! Well done and praise where due! So does anyone know how it works? Are the programmes 'downloaded' overnight when bandwidth is at a low useage time? I wonder if ITV will supply programmes eventually? Leekee

09-03-2005, 13:32	#24
Nostra Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Swansea Services: Freeview, SKY +, ADSL (Freedom2Surf 8mb), PS2, Gamecube, Wii Posts: 508	no the programs are not stored on the ntl box just think of it like watching a channel whenever you want but for a specific programme